Yearly Archives: 2012

GAP Enterprises Glock Finger Rest Extension Review

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Randall

I love my Glock 27.  It is that OD color that looks greenish or brownish, depending on the lighting conditions.  Like many owners, I’m fond of its short grip for concealed carry, but wish I could get a better hold on the G27 when the trigger is depressed.  Enter the GAP. GAP Enterprises, Inc. makes a finger rest that replaces the standard floor plate on a Glock magazine.  Called the GAP Finger Rest Extension, it adds 1/2″ of tough polymer resin material to act as a stop for the ring finger at the front lip of the magazine. The peaked design of the GAP maintains a small footprint at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Florida Highway Patrol Responds to FDLE Report

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Randall

The Florida Highway Patrol has come out swinging against the highly critical report published by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in April regarding the series of fatal crashes on the I-75 stretch of Paynes Prairie.  Mainstream media outlets bludgeoned the FHP over what the press saw as mistakes in the Patrol’s smoke/fog response on January 29, 2012.  Six crashes involved 24 vehicles, resulting in 11 deaths and 46 reported injuries. In the wake of mounting criticism and 13 wrongful death lawsuits against it, the FHP investigated and published its own report of the incident response, which involved not only the FHP, but the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police … Continue reading →

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Benchmade Knives 175 Adamas CBK Push Dagger Review

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Randall

Push daggers speak to me of power.  No pretty pass cuts or fancy foil grips, just gritty jabs and slashing blows thrown in a clench.  Boxing with a blade. Benchmade Knife Company’s 175 Adamas CBK Push Dagger was made with input from customers of the law enforcement sort.  This is a purely defensive knife.  CBK stands for concealed backup knife.  And there you have it:  all business. With full tang construction of 440C stainless steel and a chisel ground blade, this knife was purpose-built for toughness.  The 2.5” blade is double-edged, spear point in shape, and given a Rockwell Hardness of 58-60.  Blade and handle are subdued with Benchmade’s BK1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Knives, Officer Safety | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

M.R.A.P.S. Level III Ballistic Shield for SWAT

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Randall

I was having lunch with some SWAT officers from an adjacent agency during a break in training a few weeks ago.  We regularly cross-train with other local tactical teams to share info and problem solve.  While we were talking equipment, they said they had just purchased several rifle-rated ballistic shields.  When I asked which make, they said, “M.R.A.P.S.” I had seen the M.R.A.P.S. Level III shield at SHOT Show 2011.  Baker Ballistics, LLC manufactures the shield.  Baker Ballistics’ Director and CEO, Rick Armellino, gave the BlueSheepdog crew and me a demonstration of the capabilities of their Mobile Rifle Armor Protective Shield on the show floor. I was pretty jazzed about … Continue reading →

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Safariland/Kona Introduces New Patrol Bike 29er

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Randall

This press release went out after the IPMBA Conference in May.  I recently received another email notification about the bike.  I have some time with Cannondale and Smith & Wesson police mountain bikes under me.  This one has some nice features.  Video attached below from SHOT Show 2012. JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Safariland®, a BAE Systems line of business, announced today at the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) Conference that it is introducing a brand new Patrol Bike product line for the law enforcement market. Safariland has teamed with Kona USA, one of the world’s leading all-terrain bicycle manufacturers, to develop the flagship product in the line, the Safariland®/Kona® Patrol … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., SHOT Show, Street, Technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

FLIR Entry Level Thermal Imagers for Law Enforcement

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Randall

FLIR Systems, Inc. has released a new line of thermal imagers that are affordable (by thermal imaging standards).  The PS-series is initially aimed toward the civilian hunting market, but will branch into the law enforcement and maritime markets this year.  The E-series is an industrial use thermal imager with police applications.  Starting prices for the units are $1,999.00 for the PS-series and $2,500.00 for the E-series. I stopped at the FLIR booth at the 2012 SHOT Show and checked out one of their Scout PS24 imagers.  This model is an entry level device, but it has terrific tactical potential. The PS24 has a color LCD viewfinder display that can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Street, Technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Police K9’s, Pursuits, and Multitasking

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Randall

A shootout in Fortville, Indiana two days ago had me thinking about the additional multitasking a K9 handler must go through in a vehicle pursuit.  The “routine traffic stop” had devolved into a car chase during which the suspect, James Lockhart III, abruptly brought his vehicle to a stop, exited, and quickly fired on Fortville Police K9 Ofc. Matt Fox. Bullets tore through the windshield of Ofc. Fox’s marked Dodge Charger, striking the officer in the left forearm, left hand, and forehead.  Ofc. Fox’s ballistic vest stopped a round to his chest.  He was shot before he could get out of his patrol car. I have vivid recollections of many … Continue reading →

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Armored Food Truck

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Randall

I’m thinking I’ve got this budget thing licked. Randall

Posted in Humor | Tagged | 2 Comments

Blackhawk! Blades Kalista and Kalista II Knife Review

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Randall

Back when he was working for Blackhawk! Products Group, Michael Janich designed a number of tactical knives such as the Be-Wharned, Tatang, and the Kalista.  Janich left Blackhawk! in late 2009 to become Spyderco’s Special Projects Manager. Janich brings a vast amount of expertise to the personal defense game, and this is especially true in knife combatives.  His grasp of blade training and implementation seems to directly influence the construction and dimensions of his knife designs.  Further, Janich’s base of knowledge affects the performance of his knives in the hand. One of Janich’s contributions to Blackhawk!’s fixed blade line-up is the Kalista.  Roughly, a Kalista would be a practitioner of … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Knives | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Tragedies Rarely Lead to Closure

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Randall

I do not consider myself an overly philosophical kind of guy.  But there is a nagging, almost rhetorical, question which I have heard many times at the scene of a tragedy and that is, “Why?”  I just read another headline in the mainstream media about the mass murder in Colorado that said something like, “Aurora Searches for Answers While Community Grieves.” At the scene of a homicide, especially ones involving extreme violence, it is not uncommon to hear distraught victims, loved-ones, or witnesses ask for closure to make sense of something senseless.  Whether in consoling these individuals or in attempting to extract necessary information, their fixations can be both saddening … Continue reading →

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Police Back-Up Revolver

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Randall

Predominantly, I carry a back-up revolver on duty.  I have tried auto-pistols in calibers ranging from .380 ACP up to .40 S&W cal.  None of them quite fit my criteria is several ways. Of the autos I own or have tested, the .380’s always seemed too small (in the hand) and a .40 was too much gun (a brick on the ankle).  I want something concealed carry size, but one on which I can find sure purchase.  Grip size and carry considerations are at the forefront of my personal selection process. Besides these, I am concerned about the functioning of a semi-automatic in a truly close quarters fight.  Revolvers fire … Continue reading →

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Majority Supports Stand Your Ground

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Randall

Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. conducted a telephone poll of 800 register voters across Florida from July 9, 2012 through July 11, 2012.  One of the questions involved Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.  Overwhelmingly, the voters polled supported Stand Your Ground.  It is interesting to see how the support and opposition are divided by gender, race, and region in the percentages.  Below are the results from Mason-Dixon: Question:  Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law states that a person is justified in the use of deadly force to defend themselves if they reasonably believe that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or to prevent the commission of … Continue reading →

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Flawed Headline: “Lake County Deputies Kill Wrong Suspect”

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Randall

This is an unfortunate set of circumstances.  Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a request for assistance from the Leesburg Police in locating an attempted murder suspect.  The suspect, Jonathan Brown, and his motorcycle were spotted in the Blueberry Hills apartment complex at around 0130 hrs. yesterday. Not knowing where Brown was, deputies went to the apartment closest to the parked motorcycle.  They knocked on the door without announcing that they were the police.  Andrew Scott, the resident, opened the door and pointed a handgun at the deputies.  A deputy shot and killed Scott.  Brown was later found in an adjacent apartment in the same building. Blame is already … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Street | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Futuristic Plate Frame from S&S Precision

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Randall

At the SOFIC Show, S&S Precision had their new Plate Frame on display.  It is eye-catching in its high technology look and design.  The Plate Frame itself is a thermally molded polymer that snaps on to the ballistic armor.  The Frame is skeletonized to reduce weight.  Its lattice also provide multiple mounting points. The Plate Frame is manufactured to fit on specific brand and models of armor plates, but S&S Precision plans to provide frames sized for all popular types of armor..  The plates themselves must be environmentally sealed, especially if used in a maritime context, since the frame does not enclose the plate. The harness system of the Plate … Continue reading →

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Death Notification Delivery Tips for Law Enforcement

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Randall

I have had the sad duty of delivering quite a few death notifications in my career.  It is one of the more difficult parts of our job from an emotional standpoint.  For me, the worst part of the notification has to be in the moments as you approach the house, or apartment, or room where the unsuspecting family members are.  They have no idea you are about to change their lives in a very significant way… Knock, knock. Yes? I’m Officer Smith and this is Chaplain Jones.  May we come in? Why, yes– Please have a seat, ma’am.  I am sorry to tell you your son, John, was killed in … Continue reading →

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